21st Century Community Learning Centers - Program Summary

Purpose:

This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

Types of Projects:

Each eligible entity that receives an award from the state may use the funds to carry out a broad array of before- and after-school activities (including those held during summer recess periods) to advance student achievement. These activities include:

Remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including those which provide additional assistance to students to allow the students to improve their academic achievement;

Mathematics and science education activities;

Arts and music education activities;

Entrepreneurial education programs;

Tutoring services, including those provided by senior citizen volunteers, and mentoring programs;

Programs that provide after-school activities for limited English proficient (LEP) students and that emphasize language skills and academic achievement;

Recreational activities;

Telecommunications and technology education programs;

Expanded library service hours;

Programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy;

Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended or expelled to allow them to improve their academic achievement;

Drug and violence prevention programs;

Counseling programs; and

Character education programs.

Additional Information:

Targets students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Targets students attending schools eligible for Title I School-Wide Program services and/or schools with at least 40% of the student body receiving free and reduced-price lunch.

Eligible applicants include school districts (including charter schools), educational consortia, non-profit agencies, for profit agencies, city or county governments, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education and consortiums of two or more such agencies.

Grant recipients are funded for a period not less than three (3) years and not more than five (5) years.

No matching funds are required.

Each proposal may support no more than four (4) centers.

Applicants must assure that each of the proposed sites meets the Florida Department of Children and Families Child Care License requirements.

Funds for 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs can only be used to supplement, not supplant other federal, state and local public funds.